THE COMMON TOAD. 127 



stone had been cut by a wedge, and was being reduced by the 

 workmen, when a pick split open the cavity in which the toad 

 had been incarcerated. The cavity was no larger than its body, 

 and presented the appearance of being a cast of it. The toad's 

 eyes shone with unusual brilliancy, and it was full of vivacity 

 on its liberation. It appeared, when first discovered, desirous 

 to perform the process of respiration, but evidently experienced 

 some difficulty, and the only sign of success consisted of a 

 " barking " noise, which it continues invariably to make at 

 present on being touched. The toad is in the possession of Mr. 

 S. Horner, the president of the Natural History Society, and 

 continues in as lively a state as when found. On a minute 

 examination, its mouth is found to be completely closed, and 

 the barking noise it makes proceeds from its nostrils. The 

 claws of its fore feet are turned inwards, and its hind ones are 

 of extraordinary length, and unlike the present English toad. 

 The Rev. R. Taylor, incumbent of St. Hilda's Church, Hartle- 

 pool, who is an eminent local geologist, gives it as his opinion, 

 that the animal must be at least 6,000 years old. This wonderful 

 toad is to be placed in its primary habitation, and will be added 

 to the collection in the Hartlepool Museum. The toad when 

 first released was of a pale colour and not readily distinguished 

 from the stone, but shortly after its colour grew darker until it 

 became a fine olive-brown. 



Professor Bell devoted some attention to this 

 question, and, not only him but other naturalists, 

 without being convinced that such incarcerations 

 for immense periods of time are proven. Mr. Ed- 

 ward Newman, of The Zoologist, we believe has, 

 more than once or twice, inquired into the particu- 

 lars of such accounts, and invariably found a flaw, 

 and such a flaw as to prevent his coming to the 

 conclusion to which such accounts tend. Whilst he 

 and they are too good students of nature to deny, 



